UNION, N.J. (3/23/09) - The Kean University softball team split with Oneonta State in the home opener on Monday afternoon, defeating the Red Dragons, 6-5, in the opener, before falling 7-1 in the afternoon's second game. GAME ONE: Five-Run Sixth Lifts Kean Past Oneonta, 6-5
The Cougars plated five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to erase a 5-1 deficit and win the opener, 6-5.
Senior catcher Jesse Buchanan (Washington Twp., N.J.) was 2-of-3 with two runs scored and two RBI to lead the Cougars, while sophomore Jess Mattos (Carteret, N.J.) earned her second win on the mound in relief.
Trailing 5-1 after the top of the sixth inning, sophomore left-fielder Lindsay Kennedy (Parsippany, N.J.) and rookie second baseman Alicia Banz (Carteret, N.J.) led off the inning with back-to-back singles and Mattos reach on an error that would allow Kennedy to score.
Junior third baseman Melissa Dietrich (Carteret, N.J.) followed with a walk to load the bases, and after a fielder's choice denied the Cougars a run with Banz being thrown out at home, Buchanan lined a double down the left-field line to drive in a pair of runs. With runners on second and third, the Cougars tied the game on the squeeze bunt and Buchanan would score the go-ahead run one batter later on a sacrifice fly by senior shortstop Sara Steinman (Springfield, N.J.).
The Cougars took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when junior centerfielder Allison Lizzi (Cherry hill, N.J.) had an RBI single to drive in Buchanan, who led the inning off with a single.
In the top of the fifth inning, sophomore shortstop Bethany Truax (South Glens Falls, N.Y.) and junior Savanah Keicher (Lindenhurst, N.Y.) each had bases-loaded RBI singles and freshman Lyndsey Berwich (New Windsor, N.Y.) had a bases-loaded walk to take a 3-1 lead.
Oneonta State extended the lead to 5-1 in the top of the sixth inning, taking advantage of one hit and three Cougar errors.
Mattos earned the victory in relief, scattering three hits and allowing no earned runs in two and two-thirds innings of work.
Kennedy added a pair of hits, while Dietrich was 1-for-1 with one run scored.
For Oneonta State, sophomore Stacey Donald (Saugerties, N.Y.) was 2-of-2 with one run scored.
GAME TWO: Oneonta State Powers Past Kean, 7-1
Sophomore Stacy Donald had three hits and scored twice to lead the 13-hit Oneonta State (6-4) attack and defeat the Cougars, 7-1, in the nightcap to earn the split.
The Red Dragons got on the board in the first inning, scoring three runs on three hits and one Cougar error. After a Cougar error loaded the bases with one out, junior Savanah Keicher had an RBI single to drive in Donald, who had singled to left field earlier in the inning. A bases-loaded walk to sophomore Kristin Jung (Chester, N.Y.) scored the second run and a wild pitch allowed the Red Dragons to build a 3-0 lead.
After Oneonta added another unearned run in the second inning, the Cougars (8-8) trimmed the deficit to 4-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning on a RBI double to left field by rookie Alicia Banz scored junior Allison Lizzi, who reached on a single through the left side.
Oneonta tacked on two more runs in the fifth and scored once in the sixth for the 7-1 victory.
For the Cougars, senior Jesse Buchanan had her team-leading third triple of the year.
In the win, senior Jamie Llewellyn (Oneonta, N.Y.) and freshman Lyndsey Berwick each had two hits, while Jung was 1-of-2 with two RBI.
